Very interesting BigTwin! I was too big of a wuss to touch it. Wow, a 10 out of 10 on the pain scale, that is AMAZING. I’ve read that the IO has a bigger punch that most of the other stinging caterpillars.
I know an entomologist that claimed he can pick them up in his palm and feels nothing, but if they brush up against the back of his hand, he said it was like stinging nettle. I didn’t completely believe him, so I didn’t press my luck!